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Los Cabos International Airport

Coordinates: 23°09′06″N 109°43′15″W / 23.15167°N 109.72083°W / 23.15167; -109.72083
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Los Cabos International Airport

Aeropuerto Internacional de Los Cabos
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorGrupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico
ServesLos Cabos, Baja California Sur, Mexico
LocationSan José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Opened1977; 47 years ago (1977)
Focus city forViva Aerobus
Time zoneMST (UTC-07:00)
Elevation AMSL114 m / 374 ft
Coordinates23°09′06″N 109°43′15″W / 23.15167°N 109.72083°W / 23.15167; -109.72083
Websitewww.loscabosairport.com
Map
SJD is located in Baja California Sur
SJD
SJD
Location of the airport in Baja California Sur
SJD is located in Mexico
SJD
SJD
SJD (Mexico)
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
16/34 3,000 9,843 Asphalt
Statistics (2023)
Total passengers7,459,841
Ranking in Mexico6th Steady
Source: Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico[1]

Los Cabos International Airport (Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Los Cabos) (IATA: SJD, ICAO: MMSD) is an international airport located in San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico, serving as the main gateway to the popular tourist destination of the Los Cabos region on the Baja California Peninsula. Annually, the airport attracts millions of tourists, predominantly from the United States and Canada, with flights connecting to 30 U.S. cities and 11 Canadian cities. Major U.S. and Canadian airlines operate flights to and from Los Cabos, linking to their primary and secondary hubs.

Additionally, the airport is a focal point for domestic travel, connecting to 18 cities within Mexico and serving as a focus city for Viva Aerobus. It plays a crucial role in a busy air corridor linking the Baja California Peninsula to Mainland Mexico. Managed by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, the airport also supports various activities in general and executive aviation, as well as flight training. It is the larger of two airports that serve the Los Cabos region; the smaller Cabo San Lucas International Airport is about 26 kilometres (16 mi) to the south of San Jose del Cabo.

Los Cabos Airport is the sixth-busiest in Mexico and the 23rd-busiest in Latin America by passenger numbers.[2] It ranks fourth in Mexico for international passengers and ninth in aircraft movements. In 2023, it handled 7,715,600 passengers, a 9.92% increase from 2022, with 62% of them traveling to or from international destinations.[1]

History

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A Mexicana de Aviación Boeing 727-200 at Los Cabos in 1993.

Los Cabos International Airport was inaugurated in 1977, featuring an initial provisional terminal with a roof reminiscent of a circus tent and equipped with technical systems using polyurethane foam and hot air vents. As the Los Cabos beach resort gained popularity among American and Canadian tourists, the airport underwent a substantial expansion and renovation in 1997, resulting in the construction of the current Terminal 1, accommodating both domestic and international flights.[3]

In 2002, the control tower received an upgrade with advanced technology during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum hosted in Los Cabos. Terminal 2 was subsequently added to facilitate increased international flights, and a new highway provided direct access to the tourist zone. Between 2008 and 2011, Terminal 1 underwent renovations, and a newly built Terminal 3 was constructed adjacent to Terminal 2. The general aviation apron was relocated, and a dedicated terminal for general aviation activities was established at the northern end of the airport grounds.

In September 2011, the airport briefly offered non-stop flights to Shanghai, China. In 2014, Hurricane Odile caused substantial damage, leading to an 18-day suspension of operations before reopening on October 3, 2014.[4] The airport's infrastructure has faced challenges due to a surge in holiday resorts and rapid regional population growth, resulting in insufficient capacity during peak hours.

Between 2018 and 2020, Terminal 3 was fully integrated with Terminal 2, adopting the name Terminal 2 and undergoing further expansion in 2022 with additional jet bridges for boarding planes. From 2019 to 2020, TUI Airways provided flights to and from London Gatwick Airport, and since 2023, Spain's carrier Iberojet has operated daily flights to Madrid.

Facilities

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Terminal 1

Los Cabos International Airport is situated 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) north of San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, at an elevation of 114 metres (374 ft) above mean sea level. The airport features a single runway, designated as 16/34, measuring 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) with an asphalt surface. The commercial aviation apron accommodates 22 narrow-body aircraft. Nonetheless, the airport is capable of receiving wide-body aircraft. For general aviation, there is a dedicated apron with stands for fixed-wing aircraft and heliports for private aviation.

Terminal 1

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The airport operates two terminals. Terminal 1, covering an area of 16,580 square metres (178,500 sq ft), manages arrival and departure facilities for domestic flights within a single-story building. It features a distinctive roof over the departures concourse with peaked white structures. The arrivals area includes a baggage claim area, car rental services, taxi stands, snack bars, and souvenir shops. The departures section includes a check-in area, a security checkpoint, and a concourse with a food court and 8 gates on the ground level, allowing passengers to walk to their aircraft. From this departure concourse, access to a mezzanine is available, which houses a VIP lounge.[5]

Terminal 2

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Terminal 2 is a two-story structure. The ground floor manages arrivals with customs and immigration facilities, a baggage claim area, car rental services, taxi stands, snack bars, and souvenir shops. The upper floor is dedicated to departures, featuring check-in areas, a security checkpoint, and a departure area with a 400-meter-long concourse. This section includes restaurants, food stands, duty-free shops, and 19 gates, nine of which are equipped with jet bridges. A VIP lounge in Terminal 2 is situated past security, facing Gate 8.

Airlines and destinations

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Passenger

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AirlinesDestinations
Aero Charter: Los Angeles–Van Nuys[6]
Aeroméxico Mexico City
Aeroméxico Connect Mexico City
Air Canada Seasonal: Montreal–Trudeau, Toronto–Pearson, Vancouver
Alaska Airlines Los Angeles, Portland (OR), San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), Seattle/Tacoma
Seasonal: Las Vegas, Sacramento (begins January 6, 2025)[7]
American Airlines Austin, Chicago–O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Phoenix–Sky Harbor
Seasonal: Charlotte
Condor Seasonal: Frankfurt (begins November 3, 2024)[8]
Delta Air Lines Atlanta, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Seattle/Tacoma
Seasonal: Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK
Flair Airlines Seasonal: Vancouver
Frontier Airlines Phoenix–Sky Harbor[9]
Iberojet Seasonal: Madrid[10]
JetBlue New York–JFK
Magni Mazatlán, Mexico City, Monterrey
Seasonal: Puerto Vallarta
Mexicana de Aviación Guadalajara, Mexico City–AIFA
Southwest Airlines Austin, Denver, Houston–Hobby, Nashville (begins March 8, 2025),[11] Oakland, Orange County, Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Sacramento, San Diego
Seasonal: Baltimore, Chicago–Midway, Kansas City, St. Louis
Sun Country Airlines Seasonal: Minneapolis/St. Paul
Sunwing Airlines Edmonton, Toronto–Pearson
Seasonal: Calgary, Montreal–Trudeau, Vancouver, Winnipeg
United Airlines Chicago–O'Hare, Denver, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco
Viva Aerobus Cancun, Culiacán, Mexico City, Mexico City–AIFA, Monterrey, Querétaro, Tijuana, Toluca/Mexico City, Torreón/Gómez Palacio
Seasonal: Cincinnati, Guadalajara, Hermosillo
Volaris Culiacán, Guadalajara, León/El Bajío, Mexicali, Mexico City, Mexico City–AIFA, Oakland (begins March 20, 2025),[12] Querétaro, Tijuana, Toluca/Mexico City
Seasonal charter: Atlanta
WestJet Calgary, Vancouver
Seasonal: Edmonton, Kelowna, Victoria, Winnipeg (begins November 9, 2024)[13]

Destination maps

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Los Cabos Airport tower, view from the runway
Terminal 2 bus terminal
Terminal 2 departures hall
Terminal 2 Duty-free area
Terminal 2 food court
Terminal 2
Terminal 1 entrance
Terminal 1 airside
Terminal 1 entrance at night
Terminal 1 departures concourse
Terminal 1 departures concourse
class=notpageimage|
Domestic destinations from Los Cabos International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Blue = Future destination
Green = Seasonal destination
class=notpageimage|
Canadian destinations from Los Cabos International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Blue = Future destination
Green = Seasonal destination
class=notpageimage|
United States destinations from Los Cabos International Airport
Red = Year-round destination
Blue = Future destination
Green = Seasonal destination

Statistics

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Passengers

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Los Cabos Airport Passengers. See Wikidata query.

Busiest routes

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Busiest domestic routes from Los Cabos International Airport (2023)[14]
Rank City Passengers Ranking Airline
1  Mexico City, Mexico City 528,486 Steady Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Magni, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
2  Baja California, Tijuana 266,033 Steady Viva Aerobus, Volaris
3  Jalisco, Guadalajara 263,017 Steady Viva Aerobus, Volaris
4  Sinaloa, Culiacán 113,280 Steady Viva Aerobus, Volaris
5  Nuevo León, Monterrey 91,256 Steady Magni, Viva Aerobus, Volaris
6  State of Mexico, Toluca 88,116 Steady Viva Aerobus, Volaris
7  Guanajuato, León/El Bajío 36,318 Steady Volaris
8  State of Mexico, Mexico City-AIFA 29,441 Increase 1 Viva Aerobus, Volaris
9  Querétaro, Querétaro 23,481 New entry Viva Aerobus, Volaris
10  Sonora, Hermosillo 15,683 Decrease 2 Viva Aerobus
Busiest international routes from Los Cabos International Airport (2023)[14]
Rank City Passengers Ranking Airline
1  United States, Los Angeles 377,847 Steady Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines
2  United States, Dallas-Fort Worth 242,763 Steady American Airlines, Spirit Airlines
3  United States, Phoenix–Sky Harbor 222,371 Increase 1 American Airlines, Southwest Airlines
4  United States, Houston (Intercontinental and Hobby)[a] 207,863 Decrease 1 Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airlines
5  United States, San Francisco 143,305 Steady Alaska Airlines, United Airlines
6  United States, Denver 128,324 Increase 1 Southwest Airlines, United Airlines
7  United States, Seattle 105,910 Decrease 1 Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines
8  United States, Chicago (O'Hare and Midway)[b] 101,687 Steady American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines
9  United States, Atlanta 77,092 Steady Delta Air Lines, Volaris
10  United States, New York 72,412 Steady Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways
11  United States, San Diego 72,372 Steady Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines
12  Canada, Vancouver 61,795 Increase 3 Air Canada, Flair Airlines, Sunwing Airlines, WestJet
13  United States, Salt Lake City 61,575 Decrease 1 Delta Air Lines
14  Canada, Calgary 50,822 Steady Sunwing Airlines, WestJet
15  United States, Orange County 49,112 Decrease 1 Southwest Airlines
Notes
  1. ^ The official statistics combine both George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports.
  2. ^ The official statistics combine both O'Hare and Miday airports.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "GAP Traffic Report 2023" (PDF). Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico. January 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  2. ^ "Estadística Operacional de Aeropuertos / Statistics by Airport". Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  3. ^ "About Cabo Airport: San José del Cabo International Airport".
  4. ^ "Hurricane Odile: Mexico begins airlifts of tourists stranded in Los Cabos". The Guardian. September 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  5. ^ "Los Cabos Airport Maps".
  6. ^ https://simpleflying.com/aero-semi-private-airline-feature/
  7. ^ "Alaska Airlines expands winter travel options with 18 exciting new sun and ski routes". Alaska Airlines News & Stories. July 10, 2024. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "Condor Adds Los Cabos Service in NW24". AeroRoutes. March 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  9. ^ "Frontier Adds New Service to New York-JFK, Resumes Newark Flights". Airline Geeks. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  10. ^ "Iberojet returns to Los Cabos next summer". Aviacion Online. February 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  11. ^ "Southwest Airlines Extends Schedule". PR Newswire. August 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  12. ^ "Volaris Enhances Travel Options with New Daily Flights from Oakland International Airport to los Cabos International Airport - Travel and Tour World". Travel and Tour World. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  13. ^ "The WestJet Group further solidifies its position as Canada's leisure champion with expanded 737 service to sun destinations". westjet.com. May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Estadística operacional por origen-destino / Traffic Statistics by City Pairs" (in Spanish). Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil. January 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
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